PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
You are managing a construction project using a predictive approach. A key vendor informs you that they will not be able to deliver a critical component for another two weeks, which will delay the project. What should you do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often jump to 'notify the sponsor' (Option C) because they confuse escalation with immediate communication, but the PMP exam emphasizes that analysis and impact assessment must precede any communication or corrective action.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Evaluate the impact on the project schedule and identify possible mitigation strategies
The first step in managing a schedule delay is to analyze the impact on the project schedule and identify potential mitigation strategies. According to the PMBOK Guide's 'Manage Communications' and 'Control Schedule' processes, you must assess the situation before escalating or taking corrective action. This aligns with the principle of 'analyze before act' in predictive project management.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ask the team to work overtime to make up for the delay
Why it's wrong here
Asking the team to work overtime is a premature and potentially ineffective solution that fails to address the root cause of the delay. Overtime can lead to increased costs, reduced quality due to fatigue, and team burnout, often without guaranteeing the project will get back on schedule. A Project Manager should first understand the problem's scope and explore more sustainable solutions before resorting to such a measure.
- ✗
Initiate a change request to extend the project schedule
Why it's wrong here
Initiating a change request to extend the project schedule without prior analysis bypasses critical project management processes. A change request is a formal mechanism that should be pursued only after a thorough evaluation of the delay's impact, identification of all possible mitigation strategies, and a determination that schedule extension is the necessary and most viable option. Jumping to this step prematurely can lead to suboptimal decisions and a perception of poor planning.
- ✗
Immediately notify the sponsor about the delay without further analysis
Why it's wrong here
Immediately notifying the sponsor about a delay without conducting further analysis demonstrates a lack of proactive problem-solving and can cause unnecessary alarm. The Project Manager's responsibility includes analyzing the situation, understanding the full impact on project objectives, and identifying potential solutions or a recommended course of action. Escalating without this context places the burden of problem-solving on the sponsor rather than presenting a managed issue.
- ✓
Evaluate the impact on the project schedule and identify possible mitigation strategies
Why this is correct
Evaluating the impact on the project schedule and identifying possible mitigation strategies is the most appropriate and professional first step for a Project Manager facing a delay. This systematic approach involves analyzing the delay's magnitude, its effect on critical path activities, and then brainstorming and assessing various options to bring the project back on track or minimize the impact. This ensures informed decision-making and demonstrates proactive issue management.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
Key term
Project Management Plan
A formal, approved document that defines how a project is executed, monitored, controlled, and closed, serving as the single source of truth for the project team.
Key term
Training and Development
Training and Development is the process of enhancing team members' skills, knowledge, and competencies to improve project performance and achieve career growth.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PMP practice question is part of Courseiva's free PMI certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PMP exam.